The place people want to be

The South West of England is ranked as one of the best places to live in Europe.

The region is the largest in the UK, but with the lowest population density (Source: Mid Year Population Estimates 2008, issued Aug 2009).  It has around 1,000km of coastline and some of the UK's most spectacular scenery. Over a third of the region is designated as National Park or Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

This fantastic environment acts as an inspiration for the region's innovators and entrepreneurs. The South West is a powerhouse of groundbreaking ideas and leading edge R&D, with exciting developments in ICT, biotechnologies and creative industries just some of the ways the region is influencing the way everyone in the world lives and works.

Inward investors often find the South West's exceptional quality of life is their greatest ally in recruiting and retaining the best people

So, before you settle on the overcrowded South East as your investment location, just take a look at some of these facts:

FACT: The South West enjoys the UK's highest rates of relocation of professionally qualified people. Between 1998 and 2001, the South West's population grew by 7.4% compared to 5.4% for England as a whole (Source: Mid Year Population Estimates 2008, issued Aug 2009). This was due, almost entirely, to inward migration. The South West is the place people want to be

FACT: In 2007-08, over half of the inward migration was from London and the South East (source: Office of National Statistics, Inter-regional Migration Movements)

FACT: Workers in the South West enjoy the UK's highest levels of happiness, motivation and pleasure in their surroundings (source: 2005 wellbeing@work survey)

FACT: A recent survey by The Financial Times placed the South West at the top of all nine English regions based on low stress levels and high contentment at work and home (source: Financial Times)

FACT: The South West has 60% of England's Protected Coastline and there are 46 National Nature Reserves. The region is home to world heritage sites such as Bath, Avebury, Stonehenge and the Jurassic Coast

FACT: The average commuting time in central London is 55 minutes whilst in the South West it is 23 (Source: Department for Transport, Regional Statistic 2008)

FACT: The South West is one of the safest places in the UK to live, with the second lowest regional rate of recorded crime in England and Wales reported during 2008/9 (Source: ONS)

FACT: The South West has the highest life expectancy of any English region (source: Office of National Statistics, Life Expectancy)

FACT: The South West has the mildest climate in the UK

FACT: Roads in the South West are among the safest in Britain. Only the North East and East Midlands have fewer road casualties (source: Department for Transport, Road Casualties Great Britain 2007)

FACT: More people in the South West walk or cycle to work than anywhere else in the UK (source: Department for Transport, Regional Transport Statistics)

FACT: The South West of England is relatively affluent - Gross Disposable Household Income here is the highest outside the Greater South East (source: Office of National Statistics, Regional Disposable Household Income)

FACT: The South West has above average rates of social and civic participation and volunteering (source: Home Office, Citizenship Survey), reflecting the region's enduring sense of community.